NAEYC has completed its annual compilation of state early care and education developments for Fiscal Year 2010. Despite the tough economic climate and cuts to certain early care and education programs, governors and state legislatures did approve policy changes for FY 2010 in a variety of areas including infant/toddler initiatives, professional development, and child care subsidies. Also aiding states is the funding that will flow through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act - this funding has allowed states to prevent certain cuts to early childhood programs, as well as fund expansions for some existing or new programs. The compilation of state early care and education public policy developments is available at www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/policy/state/StateECEPublicPolicyDevelopmentsFY10.pdf

NAEYC 2009 POSITION STATEMENT: STANDARDS FOR PROFESSIONAL PREPARATION PROGRAMS

The new NAEYC position statement Standards for Professional Preparation Programs is now posted on the NAEYC website. The 2009 NAEYC Standards for Early Childhood Professional Preparation Programsare designed for the early childhood education profession as a whole, to be relevant across a range of roles and settings. These core NAEYC standards are used across degree levels, from associate to baccalaureate to graduate programs. They are used in higher education accreditation systems, in state policy development, and in program improvement planning. A summary of significant changes from the 2003 standards, along with an implementation timeline for NCATE and ECADA accreditation, is included. The position statement is located at www.naeyc.org/positionstatements/ppp

NWLC REPORT ON STATE CHILD CARE SUBSIDY POLICIES RELEASED

The National Women's Law Center released its update on state-by-state child care assistance policies, examining differences between February 2008 and February 2009. For most states, there were no changes. On the positive side, 9 states raised their income eligibility. On the negative side, there were only 9 states with reimbursement rates at the federally recommended level in 2009 whereas there were 10 states in 2008 and 22 states in 2001. More states did have higher rates for higher-quality programs, but most of these rates were below the federally recommended level. To learn more on how your state compares, go to www.nwlc.org/pdf/nwlcstatechildcareassistancepolicies2009.pdf

CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE: FUNDING BILLS AND CHILD NUTRITION

Appropriations Bills: The U.S. Congress did not meet its September 30 deadline for completing all of the Fiscal Year 2010 appropriations bills, including the bill that funds early childhood education, health and other human services. Congress passed a Continuing Resolution that allows federal funding under last year's levels to flow through October 31 and hopes within this month to finish all of the appropriation bills. For a refresher on the highlights of proposed funding levels in the House and Senate appropriations bills, please go to www.naeyc.org/policy/federal/08_12_09

Child Nutrition Programs Extended: The Child Nutrition programs, including the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and WIC, recently received a one month extension through October 31. The programs were set to expire at the end of September. The programs may soon be extended further through the Agriculture Appropriations bill. The Agriculture Appropriations Conference Report, which has yet to be voted on by the House and Senate, would extend funding for these programs through September 30, 2011. The programs are due for reauthorization this year.

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